Help us make a difference!

Play Activities

This page draws together play activities-related information for all of Special Olympics. The coaching materials and other links will help you get a good sense of how this sport contributes to Special Olympics.

About Play Activities

The Special Olympics Play Activities Program is for children 6 and 7 years old who do not yet compete in Special Olympics. These play activities increase young children's strength and coordination for sports, and introduce children to group play and the cooperation and awareness of rules that is requires.

Coaching Guide Links

The Play Activities Coaching Guide

Special Olympics coaching guides are the key source of coaching information for our volunteer coaches worldwide. The guides are written by experts in the sport who understand that people with intellectual disabilities need extra time and attention to master new skills. The guides are helpful to anyone teaching a sport but are especially valuable when coaching Special Olympics athletes.

Made Possible by The Annenberg Foundation

The Special Olympics movement is profoundly grateful for the support of the Annenberg Foundation which has underwritten the production of the coaches’ guides and resources, supporting our global goals for coaches’ excellence.